Unit 2 Clothing and Dress Codes

Section A Chinese clothing Passage 1 Reading comprehension

1 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 F 5 T 6 F 7 T 8 T

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Verbal expression

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2 略

Critical thinking and cultural exploration

1 Adaptation of ancient Chinese clothes Transcript

The han yuan su dress was designed to adapt the traditional hanfu to modern life by applying the main characteristics of hanfu in the design of vogue clothes, which has raised the profile of hanfu and expanded its influence.

“ For me dressing up in a traditional hanfu outfit with wide sleeves is not that practical or comfortable, ” says Liu Yinhong, founder of the website hanfuhui.cn. However, he says he insists on wearing standard hanfu on formal occasions, such as the celebration of traditional festivals and weddings. Choosing hanfu as wedding garb has become popular among hanfu lovers.

“ Han yuan su is a more practical and fashionable choice for casual wear. ” says Wang Tianjiao, who is a fan of hanfu.

Chu Yan, chief costume designer for leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders ' Meeting in Beijing in 2014, has studied traditional culture for many years and has created stylish clothes with a fusion of characteristics of traditional Chinese costume. “ Costume is one of the carriers of our culture, especially on some international occasions, ” she says. In the context of consolidating their cultural confidence, Chinese people are seeking an identity for their culture, and the public is trying to find a visible cultural symbol to show the country' s uniqueness. That could partly explain the hanfu renaissance. “ The elegance and beauty embodied in the fabrics, pattern designs and colours of hanfu cannot be replaced by fast fashion, ” she says.

(231 words)

2 Chinese ethnic clothing

Transcript

China is a country consisting of 56 ethnic groups, each having its own clothing style with distinct ethnic characteristics, due to the influence of different culture, traditions, and geographical features.

For example, Miao clothing incorporates hundreds of styles in varying arrays of colour. Headdress is common, where flowers are often used to accent vibrant patterns. Men wear short coats and trousers, while

women decorate themselves with very dainty and dazzling skirts and jewels. On their skirts, there are many patterns taking themes from real life such as flowers, birds, etc. One of the most attractive, pleated skirts has as many as forty layers!

The Bai costume has a long history. Now, the clothes of the Bai people are bright and well -matching in colours, delicate and fine in embroideries, and plain and simple in style. Bai clothing is usually adorned with camellia flowers because the Bai people view these flowers as a symbol of beauty. The Bai people enjoy their lives and love flowers. They like to wear a red scarf on their shoulders and a white upper outer garment, which is a combination that resembles blooming camellias.

Generally speaking, Tibetans wear short blouses and upper garments made of silk or cloth with long sleeves inside, a wide and loose robe on the outside and long boots of quality cattle hide. For the convenience of work or labour, Tibetans usually expose their right shoulder or both arms by tying the sleeves around their waist. Furthermore, Tibetan women prefer to wear an apron with beautiful patterns.

The hat, the caftan, the sash, and the stylish, upturned boots form the indispensible nucleus of the Mongolian's outdoor attire. The hat has always been the most special item of a Mongolian's attire. One does not leave one's hat lying about where it risks being crushed, but places it on a high perch preciously to avoid such mishaps. The caftan is perhaps the most practical article of clothing of a Mongolian man. Besides being the main garment, the caftan can serve as a makeshift tent, a blanket, a screen, or a mask, and its long sleeves can be rolled down as gloves, which can provide protection against the sun, wind, rain, etc.

(366 words)

Passage 2 Reading comprehension

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1 T 2 F 3 F 4 T 5 T 6 F

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Verbal expression

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Critical thinking and cultural exploration

1 The Twelve Ornaments

Transcript

The Twelve Ornaments are a group of ancient Chinese symbols and designs that are considered highly auspicious. They were employed in the decoration of textile fabrics in ancient China, which signified authority and power, and were embroidered on vestments of state. According to the Book of Documents , the Twelve Ornaments were referred to by Emperor Shun, one of the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. According to the book, the emperor wished for the symbols to be used on official robes of the state.

The portrait of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty in his mianfu features all twelve ornaments.

On the upper robe, there were:

thesun with thethree-legged crow themoon with themoon rabbitin it, who is constantly pounding the elixir of life the three stars, which could also be the Fu Lu Shou stars, which symbolize

happiness, prosperity, and longevity the sacred mountains, which symbolize stability and tranquility the dragon, symbol of adaptability and strength

the pheasant, which is however the phoenix, symbol of peace and refinement

The dragon and phoenix represent the natural world. Inyin and yang terminology, a dragon is the male yang and the phoenix a female yin . Therefore, the emperor was often identified as the dragon, while the empress was the phoenix. This was also reflected in the robes they wore. On Wanli's lower robe there were:

• t wo cups, which are a sacrificial utensil, sometimes feature patterns containing each a tiger and a monkey, and symbolize faithfulness and respect

• a spray of pondweed or algae, a symbol of brightness and purity

• f ire, which symbolizes brightness

• g rains ofrice, which symbolize nourishment and the country's agriculture, but also wealth

• a naxe, symbol of courage and resolution, but also executive justice

• T he figure fu underneath the axe represents two animals with their backside together, which symbolizes the capability to make a clear distinction between right and wrong.

(327 words)

2 Silk and silk-making in China

Keeping the ancient art of Chinese sil-kmaking alive Transcript

Silk is a luxury that has been sought by emperors and citizens alike — a commodity that connected the world and launched global commerce on an unprecedented scale. Thousands of years later, our desire for silk is no less intense.

China, the country credited with bringing this attractive material to the world, is still its biggest producer.

In the remote villages of Zhejiang Province, Chinese silk farmers are continuing the ancient tradition.

The raw material for silk thread is made by larvae that feed off the leaves of mulberry trees, which are plentiful in this region's mild climate. Once found in the wild, now the caterpillars — called silkworms — are mostly farmed.

One farmer, 67-year-old Ding Xiangqun, has raised silkworms all his life, feeding them several times a day in his one-room farmhouse.

It's only when you come here that you realize just how much time and effort goes into producing just one piece of silk fabric.

In D ing's farmhouse, around 30,000 silkworms have been feeding on mulberry leaves for the past month. Now they will actually begin spitting out that silk and wrapping themselves into cocoons — the whole bunch producing around 50kg of cocoon silk.

In ancient China, everything was done by hand. Today, silk is mostly made by machine — but it's still a laborintensive process.

Just outside of Hangzhou, Lin Hui, a 28-year-old young man, manages his family-owned silk company.

The factory runs 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, producing nearly 1 million meters of silk each year — selling as far away as the US and Europe.

“Silk is a tradition for Chinese people," said Lin. “It's the essence of our culture."

Given the time it takes to produce — from cocoon to factory — it's perhaps no wonder then that silk is still such a luxury today.

(292 words)

Passage 3 Reading comprehension

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1 T 2 T 3 F 4 F 5 T 6 F 7 F 8 T 2 略

Verbal exploration

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1 f 2 b 3 d 4 e 5 a 6 g 7 c

Critical thinking and cultural exploration

1 Suit etiquette for women

Transcript

Suit-wearing etiquette for women generally follows the same guidelines used by men, with a few differences and more flexibility. For women, the skirt suit or dress suit are both acceptable; a blouse, which can be white or coloured, usually ta kes the place of a shirt. Women' s suits can also be worn with coloured tops or T-shirts. Also, women usually wear suits in professional settings, rather than as general formal attire, as men do. Women's suits come in a larger variety of colours such as darks, pastels, and gem colours. Women generally do not wear neckties with their suits. Fancy silk scarves that resemble a floppy ascot tie became popular in North America in the 1970s. By the 1980s, women were entering the white-collar workforce in increasing numbers and their dress fashions adopted looks not dissimilar from men's business wear. By the early to mid-1980s, conservatively-tailored skirt suits were the norm, in the same colours and fabrics considered standard in men's suits. These were typically worn with buttoned-up collared blouses, usually white or some pastel in colour. These were frequently accessorized with a version of the bow tie, usually the same fabrics, colours, and patter ns as men's neckties and bow ties, but tied in a fuller bow at the collar. The variations in design, cut, and cloth, such as two- and three-piece, or single- and doublebreasted, determine the social and work suitability of the garment.

(234 words)

2 Dressing to impress: Tips on appropriate professional attire for job interviews Transcript

1. Learn the employer's dress style

• Research the culture of the employer as well as the culture of the organization. A more conservative employer in accounting, finance, law, etc. will require more conservative dress. A more creative employer in retail, advertising, etc. might offer more flexibility.

• Look at the organization's brochures, website, and employees to guide your dress. Get to know what style of clothes is being worn by the people who work there.

• Trust your instincts when selecting interview attire. If you have to ask “Can I wear this?” then the answer should always be “No.” Err on the conservative side when in doubt about what to wear.

• It is okay to ask employers what their organization's dress code looks like.